Friday, May 27, 2016

Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) beat off competition from the likes of former Presidents Kufuor and Rawlings, Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Paa Kkwesi Nduom, Nana Konado Agyeman Rawlings and most importantly his major contender in the upcoming November elections to emerge as the 4th most influential personality in Ghana in 2015.

This was contained in the current list of the first 100 most influential personalities released by e.TV Ghana, organizers of the annual Ghana’s Most Influential Awards. The list, which is made up of politicians, clergy, footballers, business people, entertainment personalities and journalists among others was released live on e.TV Ghana’s State of the Nation program.

This rating comes at a very crucial period in Ghana’s political space as the country prepares to elect a leader for the next four years for which Nana Addo is one of the main contenders. The fact that he is rated higher than the sitting president, John Dramani Mahama, heightens the tension between both camps and adds to the political excitement in the country.

The dispute over which of the two flagbearer’s is ahead of the other in terms of popularity, influence, etc. is always an issue of contention between the two main political parties, NDC and NPP and even among many ordinary Ghanaians. This rating therefore gives room for pundits to make various analysis and projections about the upcoming elections.

In 2013 however, Nana Akuffo Addo was adjudged Ghana’s Most Influential Personality.

The Ghana’s Most Influential Awards is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian personalities who have contributed immensely to the growth of our society in various ways -as voted by the general public.

Public nominations which was opened in November last year were scored 40 percent and the GMI Committee consisting of editors, producers, and representatives of audit firm PKF Accountant & Business Advisors scored the remaining 60 percent.

The LA Palm Royal Beach Hotel will host the grand ceremony on June 30 where the various personalities will be awarded.

Below is the list of Most Influential Politicians and how they came up on GMI list:

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Renowned Lawyer, Ace Ankomah says that every applicable law was broken to ensure that Smartty’s Management and Productions Limited - the company at the centre of the bus branding saga – was awarded the contract.

Speaking on ETV Ghana’s 'State of the Nation' with Kwame Gyan, Ace Ankomah who is also a member of pressure group OccupyGhana said there was no properly written contract or proper public procurement approval for Smartty’s to go ahead and brand the buses.

“Everything was done to breach every possible applicable law just so that the contract was given to that entity. There was no document which contained the conditions of the contract. If you are going to steal our money at least give it to a first-year lawyer to draft a proper contract for you. That sham of a contract is the basis for paying GHC 3.6million of our money? This is a joke,” he stated.

Ace Ankomah stressed that at least five laws including; the Constitution, the Petroleum Management Law, the Procurement Act and Government Contracts Protection Act among other laws were broken to ensure that Smartty’s won that contract.

On April 13 a Human Rights Court gave its ruling in a controversial case brought by some members of OccupyGhana asking for full disclosure of government’s contract with Smarttys Production over the 116 branded Metro Mass buses.

A revelation that the rebranding of 116 buses cost the country the sum of GHC 3.6 million sparked a lot of controversies and public outrage, compelling the government to retrieve GHC 1.5 million from Smarttys Management and Productions Limited.

According to Ace Ankomah the whole sole sourcing and procurement process to award Smartty’s the contract involving the Office of the President, Public Procurement Authority (PPA), the Transport Ministry and Finance Ministry was a sham.

“If indeed the office of the President had no hand in all of these, why would the office of the President order the Attorney General to investigate the matter? Was it why they were refusing to release the AG’s report?” Ace Ankomah quizzed.

He called for a full investigation into the PPA and its connection to the Smartty’s bus branding scandal.

“The PPA ought to explain more to Ghanaians. How can they either by being asleep or being complacent, allow this to pass through their hands when it took the AG less than a week to determine that we were being duped on this contract. The PPA itself massaged and breached its own law to allow the payment,” he noted.

Ace Ankomah disclosed that both the Legal and Audit team of OccupyGhana would continue to work tirelessly to chase the money involved in the Smartty’s deal until they get to the bottom of the matter

Monday, May 23, 2016

Amu’s chamber, dirty drapes hanging loosely down the windows, and partly covering the peeling paint of his walls. Clothes lay flung across the floor and on the single, mahogany bed with brown sheets and spreads.

A smiling picture of a striking Esenam used to hang up there somewhere, and he used to worship it every sunrise. It was his single photo gallery, and all his friends were forced to see it upon entry. But something happened; he cannot exactly tell what, except to battle with his left and right conscience.

Amu’s soliloquy

“My love for Esenam had drained faster than food in a colander

Yes I adored her hips and curvy contours, Yehowah!

Her lips tasted like fire

Burning with the slightest touch…Liar!

Keep mute, right conscience! Do not call me a liar

I loved Esenam with a desire

Not for curvy contours and luscious lips…never!

I speak of bells, gowns, and a priest at the altar”

“O laka l3”….daabi, mi laka ko l3, you know

I like fair women with tall legs and long hair, although

Esenam’s skin should glow

Have blue eyes and lashes that show

Whiter teeth and fuller lips or so

Maybe I was carried away, tonight will tell…”

Setting:

Esenam’s mirror; with her reflection staring at her, wanting to burst forth and slit her throat with a broken piece. She admired the nakedness of that young, dark woman in the mirror, who had grown slender for her lover, Amu.

Esenam envied her curves…maybe her freedom, for she was stuck in the mirror and away from the work love burdens its captives with.

Esenam’s soliloquy

“How such brawny arms turned so old

And the red hot flame, go cold

Is best left a story untold

I loved him…Liar! You loved his apartment and the cars he sold

Even a gold ring does corrode

But first cut was deepest; I feel it in my node

Or maybe I should hold

Tonight will tell…

Tonight, somewhere around Osu

Amu threw on a crumpled polo shirt over faded jeans, paying little attention to the Nike sneakers caked in layers of mud and filth. He chuckled and shrugged as he took his seat at the table of the eat-out where he first took Esenam.

He remembered how he had ironed his shirt back then, and traced his trousers with the tip of the iron to avoid double-lines. Now he cared less, and as Esenam appeared, he realized she too could not be bothered.

There was no hug, no greeting…

“How long have you been waiting?” Esenam asked perhaps innocently, while hanging her bag on the seat and straightening her messed-up hair. Two months ago, she had braided the latest, most complex rasta with expensive Brazilian wig.

“What time did we agree on?” Amu retorted.

“Let us make this short,” Esenam advised.

“Don’t worry,” Amu cut in sharply. “I have better things doing with my time as well”

Esenam rolled her eyes in disgust at Amu’s sarcasm. She hated him for that.

“Oh, like milking cows?” she wanted to hit back at him, but realized it was not working, for he just blew his nose and feigned indifference.

“I realized that we are no longer compatible. Fine, we like the same food, the same music, can carry on a conversation for hours…” Esenam started. “But that connection is lost”

“Guess we were all attracted by the wrong elements,” Amu shrugged, and that was it. They hugged and locked each other in a passionless embrace for a second or two and parted.

As Esenam left the venue, she had Braa Kwami on her mind, and yes, his brawny arms, accent, the sleek Chrysler PT Cruiser he drives and his tall stature charmed her most.

Amu was on his way to Odornaa, and then head on to Nima to meet Aisha, who had fascinated him three weeks earlier with her fair complexion, near-green eyes and a curvy frame crowned with well-greased lips, as though they had just been dipped in frytol.

‘Such vain cycle; this love businesses’, the wind sighed, but they both were ear-clogged!

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Award winning rapper, Sarkodie, has been adjudged the most influential entertainment personality for the year 2015.

This was mentioned in the first 100 Ghana’s most influential (GMI) personalities list released by e.TV Ghana recently. The list, which is made up of politicians, clergy, footballers, business people, entertainment personalities and journalists among others was released live on e.TV Ghana’s State of the Nation program.

According to the annual research conducted by e.TV Ghana, Sarkodie –known in real life as Michael Owusu Addo, is the 25th Most Influential Personality in Ghana.

The ‘Take it Back’ singer beat the likes of Shatta Wale, Stonebowy, Yvonne Nelson, Abraham Attah, Samini and Abrantie Amakye Dede among others who fall in that category to emerge the most influential entertainment personality.

The Ghana’s Most Influential Awards is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian personalities who have contributed immensely to the growth of our society in various ways -as voted by the general public-.

After public nominations were opened in November last year, the list was compiled and the review process started. Public nominations were scored 40 percent and the GMI Committee consisting of editors, producers, and representatives of audit firm PKF Accountant & Business Advisors scored the remaining 60 percent.

Nominees were rated on 5 key metrics and the results were collated and analyzed with the assistance of audit firm, PKF. They partnered with e.TV Ghana to authenticate the voting and weighting process. The various personalities will be awarded at the June 30 ceremony at the LA palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

Below is the list of Most Influential Entertainment Personalities and how they came up on GMI list :

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About Me

I am a Creative Arts Writer who is also into Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Photography and IT consultancy. I am also Social media enthusiast and an alumni of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).